Automatic safety-guard and track-clearer for underground cable railways



(No Model.)

, W. IRELAN, S1. AUTOMATIC SAFETY GUARD AND TRACK GLEARER FOR UNDERGROUND CABLE RAILWAYS.

Patented May 24, 1887.

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N. PEILRS, Plmm-uma m lwr, Washingion. 5.64

NITED STATES PATENT tries.

WILLIAM IRELAN, SR, OF SAN-FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

EPECIFICATION forming pan; of Letters Patent No. 363,394, dated May 24, 18 87.

Application filed October-13,1886. Serial No. 216,180. lNomodcl.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM IRELAN, Sn, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Combined Automatic Safety-Guard and Track-Clearer for Underground Cable Railways, of which the following is aspecitication.

' This invention relates to a guard and trackclearer connected to the forward end of a dummy or car operating automatically upon a fixed frame, the object of the same being to provide a guard and track clearer of such construction that when the impact is given the person or animal so engaged by the trackclearcr will not be injured or the car thrown or lifted from the track. Iaccomplish this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a dummy with my safetyguard and track-clearer attached. Fig. 2 is also a View in elevation of the same. Fig. is a plan or top view. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation showing the guard and track- 'clearer hinged to the forward end of the car.

A represents a car or dummy, to the frontend of which is connected asupporting-frarne, B, either rigidly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or by a loosely-jointed connection, as shown in Fig. 4. This frame is so connected to the car that the lower face thereof will just skim the track and not come in contact with the rails even though-the end of the car should become slightly tilted, as in passing over irregularities in the track.

1 The supporting-frame is curved or inclined upward from the outer end to its connection with the carbody, and the outer end or point is a straight edge, so as to form a stop for the movable apron or track-clearer in its operation when coming in contact with an opposed object.

The body 0 of the track-clearer or apron is constructed of a sheet of metal or other suitable materials,and is slightly curved,as shown. The shoe D, which is bolted orotherwise connected to it, may be made of somelight strong wood, and is slanted or inclined off to beveled angles, in the usual way,orina similar manner to that of ordinary track-clearers, while the inner edge is also a straight edge to corre spond with the straight edge or stop of the supporting-frame 'above described, so that when the two opposed edges come in contact a shoulder or stop will be formed and limit the throw or backward movement of the apron against the shoulder of the supporting-frame and in termediate spring.

To the forward end of the suppor ingframe are attached the guiding-rods E E E,cnrved or bent to correspond with the curvature of the apron. These rods extend inward or backward and connect with the front end of the car or the supporting-frame, as the case may require. Upon these rods the movable apron operates through the medium of the sleeves or guides F, passing up the inclined and curved guides when the shoe or apron strikes against an op posing object in its way.

In order to insure a better and more certain movement of the apron, however, and prevent friction of the parts, the friction-rollers F are employed. These rollers are pivoted within or upon the ends of the supporting-frame in such a manner that thelower face of the curved apron will act or bear upon them when movement takes place in either direction, upward or downward.

In ordinary track-clcarers for street-railways when the shock or impact takes place it is usually so great as to seriously injure,if not kill outright, the person struck, and in order to remedy this great defect I employ the two flat half-ellipticsprings. The lower one (repre sented by the letter G) is clipped to the lower straight edge of the supporting-frame, and the ends thereof bear against the straight edge of the shoe of the movable apron. The counterpart of the spring G is clipped or bolted to the front of the supporting-frame, with its end bearing against the upper edgeof the apron, so thatwhen the end of the toe or shoe strikes the object the apron will be crowded backward and upward along the curved guiding-rods and cushion against the two springs and the shoulder formed by the two straight edges between the apron and sl'ipporting-frame,which movement will lower the end of the apron, so that it will just skim. the track and pick up ICU the object or clear it away from the track of the car, the blow or impact being so light as not to seriously injure the person struck.

When the pressure is removed from the track-clearer, caused by the impact, the resilience of the two springs will force the apron back to its original position again for further protection. To lessen the force of the fall the face of the track-clearer may be lined with some yielding material, such as india-rubber or leather. I

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-= 1. In a track-clearer for street-1'ailways,tl1e combination, with the supporting -frame, of themovable apron provided with the shoe,the guiding -rods, and suitable guiding devices whereby the movable apron operates upon said rods, substantially as described.

2. Ina track-clearer for street-railways,the combination of a jointed or fixed frame with an apron adapted to move upon curved guiding rods or ways against flat or half-elliptic springs to receive the shock or impact and lower the point or toe of the apron, in the manner described. V

3. In a track-clearer for street-railways,the combination of a jointed or fixed frame with an apron moving thereon upon curved guiding rods or ways,with or without friction-rollers, against resilient springs to receive the shock or impact and lower the point or toe of the apron, in the manner described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

WILLIAM IRELAN, SR. [L. s] Witnesses:

C. IV. M. SMITH, CHAS. E. KELLY. 

